Engine starter



March 29, 1927.

C. F. GILCHRIST ENGINE- STARTER Original File'd Oct. 5, 1919 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. C/arence FGflchr/st. BY

/ 0 I d I ATTORNEY 1,622,377 March 1927 c. F. GILCHRIST ENGINE STARTER Original Filed 0012.5, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I |||l| III r 6 M .25 50 26 /5 20 2 INVENTOR.

Clarence F G//c/1r/st ATTORNEY v 162F377 March 29, F. GILCHRIST ENGINE STARTER Original Filed 001:. 5, 1919 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

BY C/arenceFQ/chr/sv ATTORNEY I c. F. GILCHRIST ENGINE STARTER March 29, 1927. 1,622,377

Original Filed 057.5, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 o INVENTOR.

C/arenceFGdchr/st. BY

ATTORNEY .March 29, 1927. c F. GILCHRST- 1,622,377

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Oct. 3, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m- X /5 va-sww:

INVENTOR. C/arenceFG/c/rrrs BY 7 v I f k I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29', 1 927. 4

UNITED 'STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

c aEENcE F. GmcnErsT, or ToLEno, 01110, ASSIGIIOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF ToLEno, 01110, a CORPORATION or 01110.

ENGINE STARTER.

than... filed October a, 1919, Serial Another object isthe provision of improved engine starting apparatus' where the driving connection, between a suitable rotatin'g member of the engine, such as a fly wheel, and the starting motor, is effected by electrical means.

Another object is the provision of a compact, durable and reliable apparatus of this character, which is inexpensive-to manufac ture and is easily applied to new or old engines. I

Further objects of this invention relate to economics of manufacture and details of construction as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description. to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention in certain instances by the devices and means described in the following specification, but it is evident thatthe same may be varied widely -without. departing from the scope of the invention, as pointed out in the appended claims. Structures constituting certain embodiments of my invention, any one of which may be the preferred, are illus 'trated in the accompanying drawings formin a part thereof, in which:

igure I is an end view of the starting motor, showing ,a portion of an engine fly wheel and the transmission mechanism etween motor and fly wheel out of engagement with ,the fly wheel.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the starting motor, as shown in Fig. I looking away from the engine. fly wheel.

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. I with the transmission mechanism in engagement with the flywheel.

Fig. IV is a sectional view taken on a line IVIV of FigIII.

Fig. V is an end view of the starting motor and transmission mechanism, with the end housing removed. v

Fig.,VI is a diagrammatic view of the No. 328,113. Renewed August 15, 1924.

apparatus, showing the electrical connections thereto.

Fig. VII is an end elevation similar to Fig. I showing a modification.

Fig. VIII is a side view of the modification illustrated by Fig. VII, looking from right to left.

Fig. IX is a'sectional View taken on the line IX--IX of Fig VII.

Fig. X is a fra mentary sectional view taken on the line I i-K r Fig. v11.

Fig. XI is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. VII with the transmission mechanism in engagement and Fig. XII is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrow B of'Fig. VII.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawings, the end portion of a starting motor 5 has secured'to it by bolts 6 a housing 7 of a general conical shape which supports and protects the transmission mechanism between the motor shaft 8 and the fiy wheel 9 of the engine. The outer end portion of the casing 7 is formed into a bearing 9' carrying a sleeve 10 in which is journaled a stub shaft 11 having an arm 12 This arm 12 at its opposite end carries a bearing sleeve 14 in which is journaled a second stub shaft 15 upon which is secured a pinion 16 which is adapted to mesh with suitable teeth 17 on the periphery of the fly wheel 9. The stub shaft 11 is in axial alignment with the motor Shaft 8.which latter shaft has secured to it by a key or other suitable means a driving pinion 18, the

pinions 16 and 18 being at all times in mesh with each other.

In order to move the pinion 16 into engagement with the fly wheel 9 to transmit motion thereto from the motor shaft, an electromagnetic operating mechanism is employed. which will now be described. A member 20 of magnetic material having an opening'21 through which the motor Shaft extends and having two pairs of upstanding segmental projections 22 is secured as by screws '23 to the end of the motor 5. Between the projections 22 lie portions of an energizing coil 25 comprising, in this particular instance, three turns of coarse wire 26. This member 20 witlrits winding forms 1 36 securely held in place by a set screw 37 When the armature 28 is in its released position the arm 12 rests against this spring 36 and it is provided'with a boss 38 having a face to engage the spring. The weight of the pinion 16, its shaft 15 and the arm 12 will normally return the gear 16 to release position and out of mesh with the fly wheel gear. However, if it is found desirable, a suitable spring may be employed to make this operation more positive. The casing 7 is also provided with a projection 39 forming'a stop for the forward movement of the armature 28 to thereby limit the engagement of the pinion 16 and the fly wheel gear.

Referring to the circuit diagram or Fig. VI, the armature 40 of the motor is shown in a series circuit with a field winding 41,

a battery 42 and a starting switch 43. Also connected in series in this circuit is the winding 25 of the field member 20 which, it will be seen, is energized whenever the starting switch 43 is clo-md to start the motor.

The operatipn of the device is as follows: With the armature member carrying the pinion 16 inthe normal released position such as indicated in Fig. I, the closing of the starting switch43 energizes the motor field and armature members and at the same time energizes field winding 25. The armature 28 is immediately caused to rotate in a clockwise direction carrying the pinion 16 into engagement with the fly wheel and is held firm y, against the-projection. 39 on the casing by the combined forces of the magnetic attraction and a component of the driving effort of the motor. As soon as the engine begins toturn under its own power,

the starting switch will be opened and the armature 28 carrying pinion 16 will return to normal release position whlle' the motor armature 40 comes to rest.

In the modified form illustrated by Figs. VII to XII inclusive the pinion 16" is journaled upon a stub shaft carried by an armature member 28 of somewhat different shape fromjthat of the preceding form. In this case, the armature 28 has polar =faces46 which are parallel with the motor axis andwhich lie opposite polar faces 47 on the polar projections 48 of a field niember secured to the motor 5 by screws 2'3.v

The field member 20 is shown carryin exciting-winding similar to that o the preceding form and also has a bearing sleeve .2l against which abuts armature 28 having a hearing sleeve 29'. The cooperating polar faces 46 and '47 of the armature and field members limit the engagement of pinion 16' and fly wheel gear, and to avoid sticking, /one or both of these faces may be provided with a non-magnetic spacer. A buffer spring 36 partially housed by a projecting arm on the field member 20 serves to cushion the return movement of the armature Inember. Inasmuch as the circuit arrangement as well as the o 'ieration of this modification is similar to that, of the preceding forin of the invention a detailed description thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

While I have described my invention in more or less detail, and as being embodied in certain, precise forms I do not desire or intend to be limited thereto, as on the contrary my invention contemplates broadly all proper changes, as well as the omission of immaterial elements and the substitution of equivalents therefor, as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and deslre to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an engine starting mechanism, the combination ofa frame, a driving member rotatably inchinted in said frame, an electro-magnetie device comprising co-operating field and armature elements, an arm rotatably mounted in said frame, a stub shaft carried by one of said elements and said arm and transmission means on said stub shaft in engagement with said driving memher and adapted to be moved into operative connection with a rotatable element of said engine when said electro-magnetic device is energized.

2.-In an engine starting mechanism, the .'combina tion of an-enginemember, a starting motor therefor havinga shaft with a pinion thereon, an electromagnet comprising a field structure ha-vin polar pro ections arranged-on opposite si es of said shaft andan engaging winding encircling said shaft and associated with said projections, "an armature for said magnet having polar faces at opposite'sides of said shaft to cooperate with said polar projections, a pinion held in mesh with. said first pinion and adapted to be moved by said armature to a meshing position withfsaid engine member.

3. In an engine starting mechanisln, the combination of an engine member, a startin motor, a casing secured at one end to said motor and having an arm journalled in the other endthereof, a pinion securedsaid first pinion, said armature being adapted to swing said second pinion into engagement with said engine member. a

4. In an engine starting mechanism, the combination of an engine member, a starting motor having a shaft and pinion, a casing associated with the end of said motor, anelectromagnet having an armature pivoted concentrically with said shaft, an arm pivotally mounted in said casing in alinement with said shaft and a pinion supported 2 arm having a stub shaft journalled in said jointly by said armature and said arm, said pinion being at all times in mesh with said first pinion and adapted to be swung by said armature into mesh with said engine member. 7

.5. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising an electric motor, a casing secured to said motor, an

casing co-axially with the shaft of said motor, a pinion secured to said motor shaft,

a shaft journalled in said arm, a second pinion on said shaft in mesh with said first pinion, a field member haying a winding secured to said motor, a cooperating armature therefor providing a second bearing for said shaft and mounted to rotate coaxially with said motor shaft upon enrelease movement of said arm.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CLARENCE F. GILCHRIST. 

